Artificial Intelligence (AI) has come a long way since its inception in the 1950s. The idea of AI sounds simple on the surface, the goal was to create machines that could perform tasks that would typically require human interaction. But the idea is much easier than the execution.

The term “Artificial Intelligence” is credited to first being used by John McCarthy in 1956. McCarthy is often touted as the father of AI due to his contribution and efforts to computer science and AI. If it wasn’t for McCarthy, AI might not be where it is today!

So, how did AI begin and what does it look like in the modern day?

In the 1950s, computer scientists and mathematicians began discussing and exploring the idea of AI. But achieving AI that would be on par with humans at complex tasks was always going to prove tricky. Just as AI was starting to gain traction, multiple reports were released that criticised the progress in AI development. This led to government funding dropping off and interest in AI from outsiders hitting an all-time low.

From 1974 to 1980, research into AI essentially came to a standstill, this time is referred to as the “AI winter.” Luckily, in the 1980s, interest in AI picked back up and the British government started funding its development again, leading to a new wave of research and development.

Despite another AI winter from 1987 to 1993, AI finally made huge strides in the 1990s. In 1997, IBM’s Deep Blue beat chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov. This was a major  breakthrough for AI as it proved it has the capacity to equal or even better a human being.

Today, AI has evolved into a diverse field that encompasses a wide range of technologies, from machine learning and voice recognition to computer vision and robotics. AI also spreads across a variety of industries.

Personal assistants like Apple’s Siri and Amazon’s Alexa are great examples of modern day artificial intelligence. These personal assistants built into our phones or homes use natural language processing and machine learning algorithms to understand and respond to users’ questions and commands. The latest data shows that there are over 4 billion digital assistants worldwide, with voice assistant users conducting over 3 billion voice searches each month. They might be in their infancy, but these figures suggest that personal assistants are very much in demand.

Satnav and GPS technology, although not typical AI, are considered as AI. The technology found in some smartphones can use real-time traffic data and adjust the route depending on the information it has. This type of AI uses algorithms to make simple decisions based on input data. But unlike more advanced forms of AI, it doesn’t have the ability to understand and learn from the environment around it.

A very simple yet effective piece of AI that you probably use most days without noticing it is recommender systems. Do you ever find yourself watching something on Netflix or YouTube because it recommended it to you? That’s AI! This AI suggests items, videos in this case, based on users’  past behaviour and preferences, offering  a more tailored and personal experience.

Brought into the mainstream by Elon Musk and Tesla, autonomous vehicles are also an example of modern day AI. By using cars equipped with sensors, cameras, and AI algorithms, Tesla vehicles are able to dynamically plan their path and map out their close surroundings. They can then react to what’s around them and choose the best route to get the user to their destination without the driver having to intervene.

In the past few months, a programme called ChatGPT has really hit the mainstream. ChatGPT is an extremely clever platform that you can ask questions to and it will reply in a conversational yet informative manner. It is so powerful that it hit 1 million users in just 5 days!

Going to Madrid next week and need an itinerary? Ask ChatGPT. Want to know the difference between beer and lager? Ask ChatGPT. Need a formula for Microsoft Excel? Ask ChatGPT. The possibilities demonstrated with this AI really are endless…and it is still in the beta phase!

As brilliant as AI is, it might not be the perfect solution….

One big concern about AI is job displacement. As technology advances and makes our lives easier by completing repetitive tasks, it will get to the point where you start to wonder whether humans are needed at all? AI could make certain professionals redundant. For instance, we already have human-free delivery systems in operation, such as Starship and Amazon’s Prime Air drones.

Customer service personnel could also be at risk. With the rise of the online customer service chatbots who can adequately answer our questions, without the need to ever speak to a human, we could see AI take over completely in the coming years.

But it’s not just the human workforce at risk, AI and computer systems that use it, are open to possible security breaches. As AI is a form of technology, it is susceptible to cyber-attacks, meaning the data could be manipulated to trick the system into producing incorrect results. Furthermore, AI systems themselves could be used maliciously by hackers. A hacker could use AI to get around security features, such as malware detection ,to steal personal information and valuable data.

AI continues to evolve at a rapid pace, with every new discovery opening up new doors. Today, technology in general is changing the way we live, it is speeding up and streamlining our professional and personal processes.

If you want to find out more about how technology can help your business, our field management software can save you and your business time and money. Get in touch with the team today to find out more.